Do you get nervous seeing the dentist? Now, picture not having access to one during a crisis.
That is often the reality many families face in our community. For Maria and her son, Joseph, finding quality dental care was a struggle. Living in Santa Cruz County, where the cost of living is so high, Maria worried about accessing affordable dental care. Unfortunately, their story isn’t uncommon.
Many hard-working families who are historically underserved are rich with resilience and resourcefulness. Yet, access to dental care is still out of reach due to financial barriers. This often leads families to delay dental care. For Maria and Joseph, this changed thanks to Dientes Community Dental Care.
Dientes has been a critical part of Santa Cruz County for over thirty years, transforming lives through healthy smiles. As a nonprofit, community support has been crucial to its success in creating a dental home for patients and making prevention more common than treatment.
Dientes has four clinics throughout the county and operates an Outreach program that brings a mobile dental team to where people are, making care accessible for people with transportation issues. Dientes provides comprehensive care, even including specialized pediatric dentistry, endodontics and oral surgery. They fundraise to keep care affordable. The backbone of Dientes’ mission is the understanding that oral health is vital to physical health and overall well-being.
“A healthy smile brings a sense of dignity,” Dientes CEO Laura Marcus said. “Often we overlook the importance of our smiles, but a healthy mouth enables people to eat without pain, smile without shame, and move confidently in the world.’”
Due to a host of systemic barriers, over 50,000 people in Santa Cruz with Medicaid (Medi-Cal) aren’t going to the dentist, and even more without insurance are not able to access care. Dientes works every day to be a vital resource for our neighbors; they do so with the support of caring people who believe in health equity and invite you to join the cause (for a limited time, you can have your gift matched!)
A History of Trust and Care
Dientes is the trusted dental provider for over 16,000 people, over 40% of which are children like Joseph. Due to extenuating circumstances, Joseph had not seen the dentist for some time. The lack of routine care resulted in a broken tooth and required emergency care. Maria knew she could count on Dientes to provide the care he needed in this crisis. Without hesitation, Maria brought Joseph into our Commercial Way Clinic to be seen right away.
After assessing his tooth, the team determined that a root canal was necessary—a daunting procedure for any child. Yet, Maria felt reassured. “The doctors took the time to explain everything in a way we both understood,” Maria shares. They not only felt valued but truly cared for. “I knew he was in good hands. They treated us like family and provided amazing dental care.”
Renovating to Provide High-Quality Dental Services
Thanks to the support of this community, Dientes continues helping those who need accessible, quality care. Their latest project, a renovation at the largest clinic on Commercial Way, will bring added resources and new equipment to help families in need. Creating an environment where patients like Joseph can feel safe, comfortable, and confident in the dental care they receive is vital. This reflects Dientes’ unwavering commitment to providing compassionate healthcare.
Community support means that families like Maria and Joseph don’t have to worry about where they’ll turn with urgent health needs. By supporting Dientes, you’re helping to ensure that more children, parents, and seniors in Santa Cruz County can receive life-changing care. This holiday season, you can give the gift of a healthy smile to a neighbor.
Join Us in Transforming Lives through Santa Cruz Gives
The Santa Cruz Gives campaign, a local online holiday giving campaign, is live until December 31st. You have a chance to give to your favorite causes, including Dientes, all in one place and have your gift matched! Every donation, big or small, contributes to a healthier, happier Santa Cruz community.
“Our work wouldn’t be possible without the incredible support of our community. The generosity we see every day, especially through community-driven initiatives like Santa Cruz Gives, enables Dientes to transform lives, one smile at a time,” Marcus commented.
You can support health equity and keep Santa Cruz smiling by donating to Dientes at santacruzgives.org/dientes. For more news, please follow us on Instagram and Facebook to stay updated on our latest projects: @dientescommunitydentalcare.
